WARREN, Mich. – The NJCAA released its 2025-26 Division II preseason men's basketball rankings on Monday (Oct. 20) and Macomb Men's Basketball was slotted fourth nationally with 191 vote points. The 191 points was eight behind third-ranked Pima Community College. Defending national champion, Kirkwood Community College, checked in atop the preseason poll with 225 vote points.

The fourth-ranked Monarchs are the highest of five teams from Region XII to be ranked in the preseason poll. Three other Region XII programs are receiving votes just outside the top 25. 

A perennial power of late, the Monarchs are coming off the program's third consecutive trip to the NJCAA DII National Championship, where they finished fifth to culminate a 30-6 season overall that featured an 11-3 record in the MCCAA Eastern Conference.

The outstanding 2024-25 campaign led the Monarchs to back-to-back MCCAA Eastern Conference and Great Lakes District Championships in head coach Christopher Burns' second season at the helm. Through two seasons, Burns has amassed a 61-10 overall record and a 24-4 mark in conference play.

Burns and the Monarchs will have to replace a host of production from last year's team as the entire 2024-25 starting five earned their way on to NCAA Division I and Division II rosters. Josh Hines is off to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay to play for Doug Gottlieb and the Phoenix. DaMaryon Fishburn will be playing in the Ivy League for Cornell University -- Macomb's first Ivy League student-athlete in athletic department history. Marlon Williams is set to play for the University of Illinois Springfield, while Jalen Jenkins and Jotham Nweke are at nearby Wayne State University in Detroit. 

Despite seeing plenty of talent move on to the next level, the Monarchs' 2025-26 roster boasts the return of key players, as well as the addition of a large and talented incoming class. Back from last year's roster are key players Lajuan Holloway, Malachi Irving and Caron Williams. Keithan Gilmore, a redshirt last season, is also a familiar name set to make an impact in the campaign ahead. 

The Monarchs open the 2025-26 season on Nov. 4 with a trip to NJCAA DI preseason No. 4 Vincennes University (Ind.). Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.